J&K DDC Elections 2020: Phase-7 Registers Record Voter Turnout In Valley, Says SEC

Jammu and Kashmir today recorded 57. 22 per cent voting which is the highest since the beginning of DDC polls.

Security personnel keep vigil on voters standing queues as they wait to cast their votes for the 7th phase of District Development Council (DDC) elections, at Archander Hama area of Pattan in Baramulla District of North Kashmir. (Image: PTI)

Srinagar: State Election Commissioner (SEC) K K Sharma Wednesday said that phase-7 of District Development Council (DDC) polls held today recorded a massive turn out at 57 per cent. “It was a day of massive turn out. It’s a matter of satisfaction,” Sharma said. Jammu and Kashmir today recorded 57. 22 per cent voting which is the highest since the beginning of DDC polls. In Kashmir, the highest polling percentage was recorded at Bandipora at 70.47 per cent and in Jammu, Poonch recorded the highest voting turnout at 80.12 per cent voting. He said that Kashmir witnessed 39.2 per cent voting while in Jammu, total voting percentage remained at 71.93 per cent, which is highest so far in the seven phases. He said that in total, 394,200 voters participated in the voting exercise. “It is a matter of satisfaction that a lot of eligible electors came out to cast their votes,” Sharma said. “The Kashmir Division recorded 39.52 per cent average voter turnout with Bandipora district recording the highest polling at 70.47 percent followed by Baramulla with 59.53% and Kupwara district recorded 59.23 per cent polling,” he said. Giving district wise details, the SEC informed that in Kashmir Division the polling percentage recorded in Budgam was 45.11 per cent, Ganderbal 53.69 per cent, Anantnag 22.46, Kulgam 17.98 per cent, Pulwama 11.06 per cent and 6.55 per cent polling was registered in Shopian. “Similarly, in Jammu division poll percentage of 74.38 per cent was recorded in Samba, 72.85 in Kathua, 67.75 per cent in Ramban, 73.10 per cent in Rajouri, 69.89 per cent in Kishtwar and 68.66 per cent in Jammu district,” Sharma said. He further said that 393200 (210479 male and 182721 female votes) people exercised their right to franchise for the seventh phase across the Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory. Because of the huge polling, there were lot of activities all around, the SEC said. “Our sector magistrate and observers took note of small complaints and in two cases inquiries have been ordered. If there would be a need to go for re-poll, we will be doing that once the inquiry is completed,” he said. In Poonch, at a polling station located at Galian, where a masked man was seen allegedly tampering with the ballot, about which a video is viral on social media. “An inquiry has been ordered and investigations are going on,” he said. The SEC said that there was law and order issue reported during the polling anywhere in J&K and the day passed off peacefully.